Borno Women React To Emir Sanusi’s ‘One-Wife-for-the-Poor’ Proposal

Mixed reactions from women in Borno have trailed the move by the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, to ensure that poor men did not marry more than one wife.

In an interview on Wednesday in Maiduguri, some women said they wholeheartedly supported the move, while others thought the idea was out of place.

It would be recalled that the Emir had at an occasion, lamented that some people who were financially handicapped, married many wives and ended up not living up to their responsibilities of catering for their wives and the children.

He had hinted that he intended initiating a bill that would bar poor men from marrying more than one wife.

Mrs Maimuna Garba, a housewife, urged “all married northern women” to “stand behind the Emir on his polygamy stance”.

“Whatever you say or refer to in the Holy Qur’an they (men) will not listen to you; they always choose what sweets them and abandon the concrete reality of it,” she said.

Aisha Ibrahim, another married woman alleged that most men would only listen to you when you advocate poligamy.

“Many of them engage in extra-marital affairs while abandoning their true wives at home.

“They should acquaint themselves with Qur’an , Hadith and Tafsir where every aspect of mankind, from Adam and Eve, to the last generation, has been clearly explained,” she said.

Mrs Amina Ba’ana, another housewife, wondered why allthe ‘hullabaloo’ as the Emir was only being realistic.

“Sanusi has not said men must marry one wife or men should not marry more than a wife.

“What he is trying to do is to evoke the part of Islamic Law that said husbands must provide food, shelter and basic needs of their wives and kids after marriage.

“What he is doing is ensuring that before you get multiple wives, you have to show you are capable of taking care of the wives and their off-springs in all aspects,” she said.

But Miss Maryam Bala, a spinster, said marriage would always be destined by God and not by human plans.

She said that Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) was once quoted as urging his people to “marry and have children so I can be proud of you”.

“The Emir might not be wrong but yet his statement is demoralizing for women who have yet to meet their future partners.

“There are many women than men in the world, who is going to marry them?” she queried.

Also speaking on the issue,Mr Muhamad Askira, a lecturer of Political Science at the Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri,said the “Almajiri system, as presently constituted, is an affront to our religion, culture and civilization”.

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